Industry Legislation

Salon Owner Fined $4,000 for Sanitation Violations

The owner of a Dallas nail salon has agreed to pay $4,000 to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and also agreed to a probated suspension of his cosmetology license for sanitation violations that resulted in four customers contracting bacterial infections. Tien Jim Nguyen, proprietor of Beverly Hills Nails, also agreed to reimburse the customers the money they paid for services and also for more than $1,200 in medical expenses they incurred after receiving pedicures at his salon.

Nguyen also agreed to a one-year suspension of his license, which will be probated for two years. He agreed to submit to quarterly unannounced visits by TDLR inspectors and to bear the expense for lab analysis and culturing of collected specimens. Nguyen also will take a course in health safety and sanitation and require employees to take the course. Failure to follow the provisions could result in the revocation of Nguyen’s license.

In February 2006, several customers of Beverly Hills Nails complained to TDLR that they contracted infections after receiving nail treatments at the salon. All of the women contracted bacteriological infections to their legs, and one customer also contracted infections to her arms and back. TDLR then conducted an inspection of the salon, where samples from the footspa basins and pedicure chairs tested positive for harmful bacteria. Inspections on two later dates tested positive for bacteria of the same variety as that which caused the infections in three of the four affected customers.

In related news, TDLR reminds all salon owners, independent contractors, cosmetology schools, and students to buy the new cosmetology rule book by September 1. The book includes all revisions made to the rules between September 1, 2005, when regulation of the cosmetology industry transferred to TDLR, and March 1, 2006. During that time, TDLR has adopted many significant rule revisions, including new inspection, sanitation, and sterilization requirements.